Corporate Readings

There is no part of the corporate gathering that is passive. When someone is praying, we pray with them. When someone is preaching we lean in actively listening. When we sing we sing out for the sake of the Lord and our brothers and sisters - even when we don’t like the songs, even when we don’t know the songs. We show up ready to serve, love, and give - not simply prepared to receive or take.

Corporate readings are an easy way to increase active participation in the corporate gathering. Simply reading a passage of Scripture aloud together, reading something as a call and response, reciting a prayer, or reading from the Book of Common Prayer, the Worship Sourcebook, The Valley of Vision, or simply reading lyrics to a hymn.

Because we have been made in the image of a God who speaks, the ability to speak is a divine gift. God spoke the universe into existence and sustains it by the word of His power. Scripture says that there is the power of life and death in the tongue. Our words matter and are significant in the formation of our minds, hearts, and souls - as well as in the formation of the family of God.

Quotes

H.B. CHARLES, JR

May we never forget that we gather not to please ourselves or to please others. We worship to please the Lord. 

WILLIAM TEMPLE

To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.

JOHN STARKE

The way from a performative life to a life hidden in Christ is death. And it feels like death too.

LAMAR BOSCHMAN

When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Recommended Reading [Part 7]

These are the most recent books I’ve finished that speak to our shared tasks as worship leaders, but also to the aim and direction of our worship hearts as Christ followers. I hope they will serve and encourage you in your journey:

Reformed Worship - Jonty Rhodes

I come from a reformed tradition, and this book has been helpful in articulating the truths that shape the design and intention behind worship in general - and corporate worship specifically. But even if your background or current ministry experience is different - this short book is worth your time.

On Worship - H.B. Charles Jr.

I love a book with short chapters! While I was reading this book, I had it on hand all the time - because rather than scrolling my phone during spare minutes, I would read a chapter or two. I also appreciated that H.B. has broken this book into three sections: Understanding Worship, Participating in Worship, and Leading Worship.

Worship And the World To Come - Glenn Packiam

This book was fascinating - although a bit academic because of the doctoral-level research this book required. Packiam explores ‘Christian Hope in Contemporary Worship,’ looking at various traditions, song choices, language, and styles to help worship leaders and pastors better articulate a fully-formed vision of Christian hope in our lives, songs, and services.

Land of My Sojourn - Mike Cosper

The local church is beautiful and brutal. It does not take long to see and experience firsthand the ongoing sanctification when you commit yourself to the local expression of faith. This means we will be hurt, but we will also be healed. Mike uses his own story and experience to give language - to clear a path - for those who are trying to navigate their way through pain and grief as we seek to be obedient to Jesus.

Recommended Reading - Part 1 | Recommended Reading - Part 2 | Recommended Reading - Part 3

Recommended Reading - Part 4 | Recommended Reading - Part 5 | Recommended Reading - Part 6

Disentangling Preferences

I have preferences.

You have preferences.

The people we lead and serve have preferences.

That is not good or bad, it just is.

But often we don’t realize how significantly our preferences shape what we desire until something doesn’t go the way of our, well, preferences.

Whether it is over song, style, volume, liturgy, or aesthetic, how might we avoid starting another ‘worship war’ in our own churches? Here are a few things to consider:

Acknowledge that we all have preferences. You, me, our team, our church, our leaders - we can celebrate, honor, and acknowledge without being dismissive or condescending towards those preferences which are different.

Realize that no one is neutral. All of us have been shaped in our lives and faith by countless influences - these are places of deep memory and impact.

Develop a philosophy of worship. Our corporate gatherings matter, and we should take seriously the songs we sing and the way our gatherings form our people. That is why I want every aspect of the gathering to be intentionally shaped. But an unexpected benefit of intentionality is that it allows us to articulate a deeper truth to our people if/when there is pushback. Why do we do the things that we do? Our own leadership will be easily swayed if there isn’t something of significance anchoring the decisions we make on and off the platform.

Use preferences as an opportunity to fight for greater unity. We can consider one another more highly than we consider ourselves when we choose to die to our preferences, for the sake of a brother or sisters preference.

Identify my own preferences. More than just acknowledging that preferences exist - what are my preferences? If I was the only person I needed to consider, how would that shape the liturgy and flow of a service I built? How would it impact the style of songs - and the specific songs I choose? What elements would I include weekly? This is an exercise I need to do regularly so that I am able to disentangle my preferences from Gospel. To help me appreciate that I am a servant to the Lord and His people in a specific context, at a specific place in time. My job is not to make little versions of myself - to enforce my own preferences on a people. My job is not to make people more like themselves - to allow their preferences to dictate all that we do. No, my job is to help create a space where people can become more like Jesus.

What would you add?

Whose Face Are You Looking For

For better (and sometimes worse) as worship leaders, we have the best seat in the house: looking out on our brothers and sisters in Christ as they sing to God and to one another the truths that animate our faith.

We see the faces of those we love, and those we find hard to love. We see the joys and sorrows of stories shared and burdens borne together as the people of God. These are the interactions as a worship leader that fuel our own worship and devotion, that unite our hearts to fear God’s name and unite our hearts to His people.

But from our vantage point, we can also see those who look like the live-action version of the flat-eye emoji.

Arms crossed.

Scowl.

Refuse to sing.

Staring through you.

Those are the faces that have made me want to stop mid-song and sentence and say “You know I can see you, right?”

And why do they always seem to sit in the front row? Ha!

While I am conscious of the fact that I am leading the people of God, when those faces fall into view, I have to intentionally remind myself: whose face am I looking for here?

Whose face do I desire to see?

Whose gaze is on me - not just on my external activity, but down to the ground of my being, who sees me, knows me, loves me, through and through?

In these moments I am tempted toward fixation: what do I need to do to make that person change their face or posture? I am tempted toward spiral: why do they hate me?

But rather than fixate or spiral, I am learning to pray with the Psalmist:

“You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”” Psalm 27:8

Collaborative Set List

The thought of collaboratively building set lists gives me indigestion. But in practice, I always walk away so grateful for the opportunity to serve together. To find small ways to die to myself, and learn alongside of others who desire to serve the Lord and his people.

One of the things that has surprised me is how often I’ve met worship leaders who can lead songs but have never been taught how to build a set list. They know how to lead a song but not how to run a rehearsal. They know how to choose a key, but can’t lead the liturgy of the gathering.

At the end of the day, I believe that part of a leader’s main responsibility is to grow other leaders - I hope that regardless of your context or experience you are intentionally pursuing opportunities to develop other leaders. And I think that find a few people who can work together to collaboratively build a set list is a great place to start.

A few things that I have learned along the way:

• People are more eager to serve, and take responsibility than you might expect - just ask.

• You need to have clarity on your philosophy of worship.

• It is easy to become frustrated and pull in different directions when you are not working from a shared understanding of the purpose of the corporate gathering - have you articulated this generally at your church, as well as specifically for this day?

• You need to articulate the rhythms of how to build a set list - particularly for those who have never had the opportunity to do this before, help them understand the why, not just the what.

• There are benefits to co-leading, but the more ownership you can give your fellow leaders, the more we all will grow.

• Recognize that we all have preferences, don’t throw your weight around to get your way. Allow space for others to learn, and allow their own personality, skills, and gifts to shine through.

What would you add?

26 May: Liturgy + Set List

• CREATOR

  Call to Worship: Micah 6:6-8

• A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

• THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

  God is great, and He is good, and He is kind. And he could have chosen to reveal nothing of Himself to us. But we know from Scripture that God is three persons in one God - the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. This morning is Trinity Sunday, the day in the Church calendar when we recognize and celebrate the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in salvation. The Church calendar, unlike the calendar that we follow as modern, western people, is oriented around the life of Jesus. So we are going to take a moment to pray these ancient words as we set our attention and affection on the person and work of the Trinity:

Glory to the Father who created us;

Glory to the Son who redeemed us;

Glory to the Spirit who sanctifies us;

Glory to the most high and undivided Trinity.

Whose work is inseparable,

Whose kingdom abides,

World without end,

Amen.

A Trinity Sunday, Prayer of St Augustine

Sermon: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Scripture says that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And when Christ returns His glory will be undeniable because the glory of God will cover the earth like the waters cover the sea. Let’s set our attention and affection on the One who has come and is coming again. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together…

• HYMN OF HEAVEN

• RAISE UP THE CROWN (ALL HAIL THE POWER)

Benediction

5 May: Liturgy + Set List

• PSALM 134 (BLESS THE LORD

  Call to Worship: Psalm 84

  God is present everywhere, always. But at the time of this Psalm, the presence of God dwelt among his people in the temple. But now, because of the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and sending of the Holy Spirit - the presence of God dwells in the heart of every follower of Christ. And perhaps we are never more aware of the presence of God because He is uniquely present when the people of God gather because he inhabits our praises, he is in our midst by the power of the Spirit. With our feet on the ground here in North Carolina, because of Christ we stand in the very presence of God, and God is in our midst right here and right now. We sing to a God who is not far from us, but has drawn near to us in and through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Let’s sing about who he is and what he’s done…

• REJOICE

• THIS I BELIEVE (THE CREED)

  Sermon: Ephesians 2:19-22

  If you are here this morning as a follower of Christ, you have not been saved to be a person, you have been saved to be a people. The people of God, the family of God, the dwelling place of God, the temple of God. And together we’ll remind ourselves of who we were, what Christ has done, and who has called us to be. Let’s read from Ephesians 2…

  LEADER:
  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
  following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
  ALL:
  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—

  LEADER:
  by grace you have been saved—

  ALL:

  and raised us up with him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
  in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

  LEADER:
  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

  ALL:
  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Let’s sing a song that has been on the lips of the Church for generations…

• DOXOLOGY

• IS HE WORTHY

  Benediction

Familiarity Leads to Presence

The first time I led worship in an Anglican service, I was glued to the printed liturgy - I didn’t know the order and did not understand the rhythms and movement of the gathering. Anytime I have been asked to play or sing at a wedding, I stare at the program as if I am looking at a flight tracker in the airport - as though each element will be changed and updated in real time.

When I am unfamiliar or uncertain, I find it very difficult to be present to the Lord, present to His people, and present to what He might be doing in this moment.

I wonder if you might feel the same. When the order of our service and liturgy change weekly, when we add in something outside of the normal rhythms of our gathering, and when we are unfamiliar with the music, it becomes increasingly difficult to be present to anything other than simply executing whatever right before you.

But when we are familiar, we are freed to be present. When our minds know a melody, when our fingers find the chords without looking, our eyes can be lifted to the people, rather than the paper. Our hearts can be attentive because they are still rather than churning.

So why not find more regular rhythms in your gathering if it means you can listen and speak from a greater degree of presence to the Lord and His people? Why not spend a little bit more time learning and internalizing that song before introducing it to the congregation? Why not spend a little longer lingering - a little longer rehearsing, a little longer being present?

Awe

Awe [noun]

1: an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime

2: archaic

a: DREAD, TERROR

b: the power to inspire dread

Would awe describe sung worship within our churches? Not about the music, the execution, the band, or creativity, but in the way that the people of God see and respond to God as we gather?

In Jesus, we are invited to ‘…with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4:16, but sometimes I wonder if this confidence can quickly shift to being casual, flippant, and irreverent.

Many low-church traditions do an excellent job of articulating and celebrating the immanence of God - the reality that God is knowable and near. Many high-church traditions do an excellent job of articulating and celebrating the transcendence of God - the reality that God is above and completely other than His creation. Either of these realities can - and should - inspire our worship and devotion, but so few traditions (much less Christians) equally grasp these truths.

One of the themes that has emerged from my recent reading has been how living post-Enlightenment means that our world - and therefore our minds and daily lives - are emptied of wonder. What use is wonder when we have knowledge, understanding, and explanation for so many things? Agreeing to the spiritual - and therefore mysterious - reality of our world can often be seen as an intellectual cop-out. A failure to work toward a knowable resolution. But perhaps wonder and knowledge do not need to be on opposing sides, but can in fact hold hands in the way we approach God as the people of God.

Our people inhabit a wonder-less world, are we leading them toward the transcendent reality of God as we gather?

Post-Easter Expectations

One of our church staff's conversations in preparation for Easter is that Easter (for us) is another Sunday. We celebrate the same truths on Resurrection Sunday that we do every Sunday. We open God’s Word, sing God’s Word, pray God’s Word, read God’s Word, apply God’s Word, and live in light of God’s Word on Resurrection Sunday like we do - hopefully - every Sunday. But certainly, we can feel the pressure of trying to cultivate greater meaning or intentionality into this one day - for those who call our churches home, and for those who may walk through the doors for the first time.

Hear me, Easter is not unimportant. The whole purpose of the incarnation, the whole purpose of the season of Advent and Christmas is to lead us to this moment - celebrating the resurrection. The resurrection is of eternal importance.

But often as worship leaders, we can believe that it is our efforts - song choice, skill in leading, our team’s ability to execute with excellence, unique articulation of truth, and creative and artistic prowess - that makes the day special and set apart.

Here is the good news: you are not that powerful. We are not so powerful that our skill and ability - or lack thereof - can make or break the truths we celebrate on Easter or every week. That means whether you sit on this side of Resurrection Sunday feeling the swell of pride in a flawless set list, or the drop of disappointment that what you executed did not live up to the vision in your head and heart, neither reality is the truest thing about you, about the team, about the church, and the resurrection. We bless God for flawlessly executed set lists knowing that was his kindness. And we bless God for unrealized visions knowing that this too is his kindness.

And we lay down what we have been carrying, and serve faithfully into the next Sunday and beyond.

You may also like:

Every Resurrection Sunday 2023

Easter Recovery 2022

Planning Ahead

When I started leading worship in youth group, songs lived in a giant folder. No planning center, and no digital chord charts to be seen - apart from the Word documents I would type myself. It would be normal to arrive at youth group, or Sunday evening Bible study and see other leaders flipping through a folder of chord charts asking, ‘What songs should we sing?’ And yet even with all the advantages of modern technology and resources that are accessible to worship leaders today, I’m surprised how many people still lead from a ‘folder,’ mentality. I often sense - particularly for those who lead as volunteers or are bi-vocationally - that this kind of execution is not a lack of care, thought, or intentionality, but of time.

I have led worship as a volunteer, while working multiple jobs, and on full-time staff. Here are four things I’ve learned that have helped me plan:

Batch work.

I find it easier to get ahead when I can work on one thing at a time. So I will often batch my work by focusing one day on building set lists for the month and scheduling teams. Focusing another day on learning new songs, building tracks, propresenter, and chord charts. Reading, prayer, and long-range planning on another day, etc. This helps me feel like I can do deep work by building rhythms that will help me week to week.

Communicate expectations.

Communication with the team is important. But the team also needs to know what to expect from me. Likewise, working effectively with your pastor requires intentional communication as well.

Determine what is most important.

The artistic sensibility means that I often am aware there is a gap between what I envision, and what I will be able to execute. Is this song as perfect in its transitions as we can make it? Likely not. But we also have four other songs this morning that require attention. This is an example of where I have determined - being able to communicate the larger idea of the liturgy is more important than the tiny details of song transitions that will likely go unrealized by the congregation. Give your time and energy to the things that are important to the Lord, to you, your team, your leaders, and your community - open your hands to the rest.

Recognize the season.

Having a baby? Upgrading your audio visuals? In school? Rebuilding a team? Developing new leaders? Every season we inhabit will shift and change our capacity. It is unfair, and unrealistic to expect that every season will be the same. Life moves in seasons and stages, so allow the seasons and stages to help shape what is most important, what is worth fighting for, and what can fall away.

What would you add?